When Drummond Central won big at last year’s Prolific North Champions Awards, the impact did not stop at the stage. Their recognition as Best Creative Agency and their award-winning work with drinks giants Fentimans travelled back to the Newcastle office, into client conversations and across new business meetings that are still having an impact 12 months on.
With this year’s entry deadline closing on 27 February, Drummond Central Managing Director Dan Appleby told us about how the recognition still resonates across the business.
ENTRIES FOR THE 2026 CHAMPIONS AWARDS CLOSE ON FEBRUARY 27 – HERE’S HOW YOU CAN ENTER
“Winning the Prolific North Champions Awards for introducing Fentiman meant a lot to everyone here. It was validation not just for the polished output, but for all the graft behind the scenes that no one sees. It was a proper team effort from start to finish with Fentimans, and having it recognised outside our own bubble made all the difference – especially by our Northern peers.
“It showed us the idea wasn’t just something we believed in, other people backed it too.”
That sense of external endorsement carries weight for agencies competing nationally while rooted regionally. Recognition from peers across the North provides a powerful benchmark and reinforces belief within the team.
For Drummond Central, the award also underlined something more fundamental about the campaign’s success.
“What mattered just as much was that it proved the work didn’t just look good – it worked,” Dan said. “It showed the commercial impact and effectiveness of the idea, not just the craft, and that’s ultimately what really matters.”
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In a climate where clients expect measurable outcomes alongside creative ambition, that emphasis on impact is central to what the Champions Awards celebrate. Campaigns are judged on results as well as execution, rewarding work that delivers commercially while raising the creative bar.
As agencies and brands consider whether to submit their work this year, Dan is clear in his encouragement.
“We’d absolutely encourage other agencies and brands to enter,” he said. “These awards aren’t about chasing trophies, but backing Northern creativity and recognising top-class work. If you’re proud of what you’ve made, put it forward.”
With just days left to enter, if you believe in the work then give it the platform it deserves. Entries for the Prolific North Champions Awards close on 27 February.
Got questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to the team on [email protected]
